Ingela Ihrman (b 1985, Kalmar, Sweden) is an artist based in Stockholm. Her work is sparked by the strong emotions of everyday life and a desire to understand, question or express what it’s like to be alive, social, fertile or human. It is particularly the pleasures and pain that come with co-existence, loneliness and desire that intrigues her.
Covered in sculptural costumes made by hand in basic craft techniques with simple and familiar, found or recycled material, she pretends to be other living beings such as a night blooming cactus or a giant clam. What does it mean to be someone or something? What is it like to be someone else? How is a sense of self formed within a body? And who are you?
ingela.ihrman(a)gmail.com
Education
2010 – 2012: MFA, Art In the Public Realm, Konstfack, Stockholm
2007 – 2010: BFA, Konstfack, Stockholm
2005 – 2007: Gerlesborg Bohuslän School of Fine Art, Hamburgsund
2004 – 2005: Stenebyskolan, School of Arts and Crafts, Dals Långed
2021: Konst i det öppna – Sociala dimensioner, ekologier och förvandlingar, 30 hp, Konstfack
2015: Tiden är elden i vilken vi brinner. 7,5 hp, Göteborgs Universitet
Solo/duo exhibitions
2024: Floating Jewels, Vetlanda museum, with Frida Peterson
2023: Frutti di Mare, Malmö Konsthall →
2023: Miss Brunnsviken, Carl Eldhs’s Studio Museum, Stockholm
2023: Nocturne, Gasworks, London →
2022: The Peacock’s Breath, Åstorps konsthall, Åstorp, with Frida Peterson
2021: A Great Seaweed Day, Bohusläns Museum, Uddevalla
2021: The Giant Hogweed, Karlin Studios / FUTURA, Prague
2018: Paddan, Kalmar Konstmuseum, Kalmar
2018: Varm Saft, Kristianstads konsthall, Kristianstad
2018: We Thrive, Cooper Gallery, University of Dundee
2017: It’s Sweetwater, Zabriskie Point, Geneva
2017: The Inner Ocean, der TANK, Institut Kunst, FHNW Academy of Art and Design, Basel
2016: Det frodas i framtiden / Future Flourish, Tensta konsthall, Stockholm
2014: “The beach is open to all without restrictions, and there is no charge for use.”, Ronneby konsthall
2013: Tropikerna i Gnesta, Gnesta Art Lab →
2013: ETT MED NATUREN, Fullersta Gård, Huddinge
2013: Kom in! Galleri Gerlesborg, Hamburgsund, with Christina Langert
2012: The Giant Water Lily Victoria regia BLOOMS at Rodeløkka!, Percival Space, Oslo
Group exhibitions
2024: Det ska växa – textila uttryck som offentlig konst, Statens Konstråd, Stockholm
2024: Dreams and visions by the sea, Art Inside Out / Mjellby konstmuseum, Halmstad
2024: A Tree, Onompatopee, Eindhoven
2024: Radical Playgrounds: From Competition to Collaboration, Gropius Bau, Berlin
2024: Biennale Gherdëina 9: The Parliament of Marmots, Ortisei
2024: The Observatory – Art and Life in the Critical Zone, Kin Museum for Contemporary Art, Kiruna
2023: Sur le feu, Beaux-Arts de Paris, Paris
2023: Den första tropen, Galleri Trop, Stockholm
2023: Super Natural, Eden Projects, Cornwall
2022: In the City Grows a Field, Malmö Konsthall
2022: Human Nature, Telemark Art Museum
2022: Resonating Bodies, Uppsala konstmuseum
2022: Rooted Beings, Wellcome Collection, London
2021: I have been in love for 8 million years , Re_Act Contemporary, Azores
2021: A Vegetal Encounter, La Casa Encendida, Madrid
2021: The Overview Effect, Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade
2021: Sustainable Societies for the Future, Malmö konstmuseum, Malmö
2020: Weather Report: Forecasting Future, Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, Vasa
2020: Yokohama Triennale 2020 “Afterglow”, Yokohama
2020: Being Pulled All Over The Place, SCAN Projects, London
2020: Weather Report: Forecasting Future, Kiasma, Helsingfors
2020: Sensing Nature From Within, Moderna Museet, Malmö →
2020: Föreställningar om naturen, Västerås konstmuseum
2019: Weather Report: Forecasting Future, Nordic Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale
2019: Flora, Stavanger Kunstmuseum, Stavanger
2019: Air, Flowers, Salt. Castello di Rivoli, Torino
2019: Choreographies of the Social, Statens konstråd, Stockholm
2019: The Trouble is Staying, Meet Factory, Prague
2019: Träd, Luleå konsthall, Luleå
2019: Of Beast and Man, SCOTTY ENTERPRISES, Berlin
2018/2019: Luleåbiennalen 2018, Tidjord/Tidal Ground, Luleå
2019: The Moderna Exhibition 2018, With the future Behind us, Moderna museet, Stockholm
2018: Herbarium, Art Lab Gnesta & Grafikens hus, Gnesta
2018: Becoming Plant, Tenderpixel Gallery, London →
2018: Metamorphoses – Let Everything Happen to You, Castello di Rivoli, Torino
2018: Omnejd, Lunds konsthall, Lund
2018: Soon Enough: Art in Action, Tensta konsthall, Stockholm
2017: Family First, Södertälje Konsthall, Södertälje
2016: The Eight Climate (What does art do?), 11th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju
2016: The Swamp Biennal, Art Lab Gnesta
2015: Situation Hembygd, Tensta museum: Fortsättning, Stockholms Läns Museum, Stockholm
2015: Survival K(n)it 7, Latvian Center for Contemporary Art, Riga / Tensta Konsthall
2015: STREAM(2) Helpless, South Windham
2015: Becoming by Recalling, Passagen Konsthall, Linköping
2015: Den naturliga ordningen, Haninge konsthall, Haninge
2014: STREAM, South Windham
2014: UPPEHÅLL, Marabouparken, Sundbyberg*
2013: Vart tog hon vägen? Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm Music & Arts Festival, Stockholm
2013: Sommer i nOrd, Saeby
2012: HÄR HAR MAN ALLTID MED SIG,Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm Music & Arts Festival, Stockholm*
2012: In a world of my own, Vintervikens trädgård, Stockholm*
2012: Jättenäckrosen Victoira amazonica BLOMMAR i tropiska växthuset på Skälby! Art Line / Kalmar konstmuseum, Kalmar
2011: Permanens III, Akademiska Hus, Linköping
2011: Strangers: Between Europe and Asia, VII Shiryaevo Biennale of Contemporary Art
2010: Another Way / En annan väg, Wanås Foundation, Knislinge
2010: Liljevalchs Vårsalong, Stockholm
2008: H(är)!, Kalmar Konstmuseum, Kalmar
Public commissions
2023: First Came the Landscape, Eden Projects, Cornwall →
2022: Älskar, Älskar inte, Holmbergsparken, Torshälla, Eskilstuna kommun →
2017-2021: Jättenäckrosen, Hökarängen T-bana, Sirapsvägen, Stockholm Konst →
2020-2021: Kortedalakrokodilen, Första Majgatan 2, Göteborgslokaler →
2019-2020: Tågandet på Visborg, Konst i Stadsbyggnadsprojekt, Statens konstråd/Baltic Art Center/Region Gotland →
2017-2019: Festplats för Träskafton, Vega pendeltågstation, Haninge Kommun
2018: Äntligen Semester, Hälsocentralen Gripen, Region Kalmar*
Events, performances, screenings
2024: Art & Words Festival 2024: Jellyfish and Deep Dreams, Wanås
2023: SCREENING: BEVÆG DIG BEVÆG MIG, Arken, Copenhagen
2022: Revolve Corporeality, Uppsala
2021: Sydhavnsambassaden #6, Copenhagen
2021: Invigning av Festplats för Träskafton, Haninge kommun, Vega*
2021: Rom på rundgang, Kurant Visningsrom/Tromsö Film Festival
2019: Samtidigt i Svenshögen, GIBCA Extended, Stationen, Svenshögen
2019: These two exchange limbs, South London Botanical Institute, London
2018: Vad gör ni här? Rum för performance, Bildmuseet, Umeå
2017: Obstacle, Art Video for Kids, Kunsthall Stavanger
2017: Release: Seaweedsbladet #1, Malmö
2017: Grodan och solen går ner i havet, with Evelina Hartwig, Nordiska akvarellmuseet, Skärhamn
2016: Träskafton i Karlstad, Water Research Area, with Maretopia, Karlstad*
2015: Översvämningsseminarium, REGN – Kajsa G. Eriksson & Fredric Gunve, Galleri Box del 2 i GIBCA Extended, Göteborg**
2015: LARU15 Human Era, Helsingfors
2015: Träskaftonslunch i Hägerstens botaniska trädgård, Art Lab Gnesta, Gnesta*
2015: The Giant Knotweed Panflute Ensemble, Gamla Linköping, Linköping
2015: Open Edit With Three Sisters, Agora Collective, Berlin
2014: Översvämningsseminarium, Skånes Konstförening, Malmö**
2014: GKU Vårfestival, Art Lab Gnesta, Gnesta*
2013: Amorfophallus Titanum, Microclima / Art Night Venice with Art Lab Gnesta, Venice
2013: Norrköping Pride, Norrköping*
2013: THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT HOW IT FLOWS, Capricious & Högkvarteret, Stockholm*
2013: Nattvandring på Fullersta Gård, Fullersta Gård, Huddinge*
2013: Jan Lindblad Film Festival, Folkets hus, Nås
2012: Konstkarusellen, Galleri 54, Göteborg
2012: Alla måste duscha – en gympasalsredovisning av Sam Hultin, Hägerstensåsens skola, Stockholm
2012: Svenska Flickan och Hägerstens Botaniska trädgård, Orionteatern, Stockholm*
2012: Rädsloingenjörerna, Hallonbergens Bibliotek, Stockholm*
2012: Hallonbergen Live, Stockholm*
2011: Hägerstens Botaniskas Trädgårdsradio Live! at Konsumera Mera, Norrköpings Konstmuseum, Norrköping*
2011: Jan Lindblad Film Festival 2011, Gävle Konstcentrum, Gävle
2011: Hägerstens Botaniska Trädgårds Jubileumsshow, Kristianstad Konstmuseum, Kristianstad*
2011: Hägerstens Botaniskas Trädgårdsradio – Live!, Gävle Konstcentrum, Gävle*
2011: Östersjögalan, (H.B.T.), Högkvarteret, Stockholm*
2010: Hägerstens Botaniska, Galleri Syster Blandband Audition, Supermarket, Stockholm*
2009: Hägerstens Botaniska Trädgård, Midsommargården, Stockholm *
Listen
2023: Konsthantverkspodden (Swedish)
2023: re:re Art podcast #4 About the landscape within, playfulness and imagination (English)
2012: Tropikerna i Gnesta, Art Lab Gnesta/Caroline Malmström interview (Swedish)
Read
2021: Soós, Borbála: VLNA #87 2021, https://www.vlna.sk/vlna-87/
2019: Lind, Maria: Catalogue for Weather Report: Forecasting Future, Nordic Pavilion, Venice Biennale, Mousse Publishing
2019: Malmström, Caroline. Cora #56
2017: Martinez, Chus. An inexaustible goddwill. Schrin-pease.de From leaves to politics
2017: Konstfrämjandet Jämtland + Länstidningen LT, 4 april
2016: Martinez, Chus. Club Universe, Sternberg Press, Berlin and Institut Kunst at the FHNW Academy of Art and Design, Basel. p. 77-79
2016: Skoglund, Sara. Intervju med Ingela Ihrman. In Artlover # 29, p. 34-35
2016: Tankar om yttre och inre hav. In Fält (7) by Art Lab Gensta, p. 43-52
2016: Hägerstens Botaniska Trädgård. Den rituella träskaftonsmåltiden. In Fält (7) by Art Lab Gnesta, p. 37-39
2015: Lind, Maria. On the transforming wonders of nature in the work of Ingela Ihrman. In ArtReview # March 2015 (https://artreview.com/opinion/march_2015_opinion_lind/)
2015: Three Sisters at Vrångsholmen, Berlin: Broken Dimanche Press
2014: Sandström, Frida. Det slutade aldrig att regna. In Kunstkritikk
2014: Catalogue for Art Line, p. 70-75
2013: GOLDEN/GOLDEN Delicious Retriever. In Fält (2) by Art Lab Gnesta, p. 2-5
2012: Tellus Ruber. In Percival Space, An Epitath For the World We Are Leaving Behind, Oslo: Percival Space
2012: Tropikerna 1-4, self published
2011: Catalog for Strangers: Between Europe and Asia. VII Shiryaevo Biennale of Contemporary Art, p. 17, 70-71.
Residencies
2022-23: Iaspis studio grant, Stockholm
2021: Artist-in-residence, På spaning efter Scanie, Den platta jorden, Åstorps municipality (with Frida Peterson) →
2019: Pernod Richard Fellowship, Villa Vassilieff, Bétonsalon – Center for Art and Research, Paris
2018: Artist-in-residence, The Boothy Project, Isle of Eigg
2016: Artist-in-residence, Swamp Storytelling, Earth CoLab & Art Lab Gnesta, Neil Island
2015: Artist-in-residence, Swamp Storytelling, Art Lab Gnesta , Gnesta *
2015: Trumpeten co Mellanrum, Malmö **
2015: Three Sisters at Vrångsholmen, Agora Collective, Berlin
2014: Tre systrar på Vrångsholmen, Tanum
2013: Artist-in-residence, Art Lab Gnesta, Gnesta
2011: The Nomadic Show, Strangers Between Europe and Aisa, Shiryaevo
Teaching
2023: Guest lecturer, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm
2021: Guest teacher, Kostym & Situation, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen
2021: Guest lecturer, Nyckelviksskolan, Stockholm
2019: Master Symposium Women on Earth, Institut Kunst, FHNW, Basel
2016: Guest lecturer at Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kust, Instiutu Kunst, Basel, Schweiz
2016: Guest lecturer at RAT School of Art, Seoul, Korea
2016: Guest teacher, Munka Ljungby Folkhögskola (with EvaMarie Lindahl)
2015: Guest teacher, Det här är INTE en maskerad, (with Angelica Falkeling) Den nya konst(utbildning)en, Konstfrämjandet/Lisa Nyberg, Malmö
2014: Guest teacher, Konstfrämjandet/Lisa Nyberg, Malmö
2013: Guest teacher at Gerlesborgsskolan Bohuslän (with Christina Langert)
Represented
The National Sports Museum of Sweden, Uppsala konstmuseum, Kalmar kommun, Kiasma, Statens konstråd, Moderna Museet, Malmö konstmuseum, Västerås konstmuseum, Castello di Rivoli, private collections
* Hägerstens Botaniska Trädgård with Sam Hultin och Johan Eriksson
** Ateljékollektivet Trumpeten
Website: Thomas Bush